Self-lubricating pump



Dec. 31, 1935. H. R. LAFFERTY SELF LUBRICATING PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 30, 1951 w/ 1i.. J R, ww @w 1 NW QQ Nw A QN @N @Wl WNW @w Mw a QN W Nw f" f m E hw @W Nm, Y @URW @ml @W www @N @w QN 4 am,

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H. R. LAFFERTY SELF LUBRIGATING PUMP Filed NOV. 30, 1951 Dec. 3l, 1935.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gv l Patented Dec. 3l, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-LUBRICATING PUMP Herbert R. Lafferty, Davenport, Iowa, assgnor to Red Jacket Mfg. Co., Davenport, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application November 30, 1931, Serial No. 577,875

1 claim.

This invention relates toy improvements in hydraulic pumps, and more particularly to reciprocating water pumps, and has for its principal object to produce a simple and economical construction whereby the water which passes through the pump is utilized to lubricate the main moving parts of the pump, thereby eliminating the necessity of using oil or other lubricant.

As heretofore constructed, reciprocating water pumps such as used with domestic pumping systems have usually been supplied with oiling devices of various kinds, the most common form of pump having a crank case arranged to receive a supply of oil capable of providing lubrication to the crank shaft and connecting rod for a long period of time. Such pumps, however, require special means for segregating the oil from the Water passages so as to maintain a pure water supply. Furthermore, it is well known that in spite of warnings and admonitions, the users frequently fail to renew the oil, thus permitting the crank case to run dry, with a consequent sticking or burning out yof the main bearings with attendant breakdowns of the pumping system.

In carrying out my invention, I provide an improved form of double acting pump wherein one set of inlet and outlet valves serves a pressure chamber which includes the crank case, thereby causing part of the water to flow through the crank case and provide constant lubrication for the moving parts therein, including the crank shaft, connecting rod and the plunger.

Other features of the invention will appear from time to time as the following description proceeds. i

My invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a transverse section of a pump casing constructed in accordance therewith.

Figure 2 is a partial section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view in perspective of the main crank shaft bearing and .packing means therefor.

Referring now to details of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the main parts of the pump consist of a cylinder I0, a plunger II in said cylinder, a connecting rod I2, a crank arm I3 and a crank shaft I4. Said parts are all preferably mounted and enclosed within a unitary casing I5 with the exception of the shaft I4 which extends through a detachable bearing and packing plug I6 at one side of the crank case I5a of the pump, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

chamber 20 also forms the crank case I5a or the 10 portion of the main casing I5 which encloses the 'connecting rod I2 and crank shaft I3.

Each of said chambers is provided with a set of inlet and outlet valves. In the form shown,

the inlet valve 2lia associated with the chamber 15 20 and the companion inlet valve 2|a associated with the chamber 2 I are both mounted on inner plates and 26 of an inlet casing 2l which is arranged to be detachably connected to one side Wall of the main casing I5 so that said plates 25 and 26 cover the side openings of the passageways 20 and 2|, as clearly shown in Figure 1. Water is admitted to the casing 21 through an inlet 28 at one side of the main casing I5 and communicating with the passage 29 between the adjacent webs I8 and I 9, which passage opens laterally into the interior of the inlet casing 2l as clearly shown in Figure 1.

The inlet valves 2lia and 2Ia may be of any suitable form, herein being of the poppet type, each including a valve plate'30 adapted to close an aperture 3l in valve seat 32. Said valve plate.

30 is slidable on a pin 33, having a head 34 with a coil spring engaged between said head and said valve plate so as to normally maintain the latter in closed position against its seat.

The outlet valves for the chambers 29 and 2| are indicated at 20a and 20h, said valves being of the same type as the inlet valve previously described, but herein being mounted on transverse webs 36 and 3'I formed integrally with the main casing I5 but on opposite sides of the transverse webs I8 and I9 which separate the chambers 20 and 2I apart as previously described. Said outlet valves communicate with a common pressure chamber 38 formed by a detachable cover 39 which is provided with an outlet opening.40.

The form of plunger II shown herein as made up of a longitudinal pin 45 having an eye 46 at one end thereof to which is pivotally connected the yoke I2a of the connecting rod I2. A sleeve 4'I surrounds the pin 45, a collar 50 is mounted on said sleeve, and a pair of washers 48 and 49 are mounted at opposite ends of said collar, said Washers being of liber or leather of the expansible type generally utilized for pump plungers, and secured against the central collar 5I! by retaining rings II8a and 49a, respectively. The several parts of the plunger are finally secured together by nuts 5I threaded on the end of the pin 45 and engaging the outermost retaining ring 49a as shown in Figure 1.

Bearing means are provided between the crank arm I3 and crank shaft I2 so as to be particularly effective for lubrication by Water. In the form shown, the crank shaft I2 and the crank arm I3 are both designed to be made of brass castings, the crank arm having a sleeve I3a suitably fixed on the end of crank shaft I4 as by brazing. The connecting rod pin I3b of the crank arm I3 has a bushing I3c xed thereon, said bushing preferably being of rust resisting steel alloy and engaging in a bronze bushing 55 carried by the connecting rod I2. This arrangement gives a steel-to-brcnze bearing which is found to be particularly effective in a device of the character described. Suitable lubrication grooves 56, 5S are formed lengthwise the bronze bushing 55 as shown in Figures l and 2 so as to permit the' flow of Water the full width of the connecting rod bearing for lubrication of the same.

Referring now to the bearing for a crank shaft I4 and crank arm hub Ia mounted thereon, I provide a steel bearing sleeve 51 on said crank arm I3a which has engagement with a bronze bushing 58 fixed in the inner end of the bearing plug I6 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. Said bronze bushing 58 fits in a recess 59 formed in said bearing plug, but said bushing as Well as the hub I3a and steel bearing sleeve 5l are shorter than the total depth of the recess 5E! so as to form a chamber 5G at the inner end of said hub, as clearly shown in Figure 2. A pair of Water ducts 6I and 62 are formed adjacent the periphery of the plug IG so as to afford communication between the opposite sides of the chamber 65 and the interior of the crank case I5a. Lubrication grooves 53, 63 are also formed on the interior of the bronze bushing 58 and extending longitudinally thereof. The arrangement just described is such that Water may circulate through the ducts 5I and 52 and the grooves 63, 63, thus insuring a free and continuous flow of Water through the main bearing of the crank shaft at all times.

Also mounted Within the bearing plug I6 beyond the chamber 69 is a packing gland 55 closed by a rotatable plug 5B which is reached through oppositely disposed openings 61, 6l formed in said plug. Said bearing plug may also be provided at its outer end with an anti-friction bearing 68 as shown. It will be observed that the entire bearing plug is attachable as a unit to one side of the crank case I5 as by screw threads I6b engaging a cio-operating boss I5b at one side of the crank case.

In the preferred form of pump casing shown, in which the crank casing is made of integral casting, access to the plunger and connecting rod 5 Within the casing is afforded by means of a plug 68 closing one end of the chamber 2I opposite the cylinder I, and a corresponding plug 69 at the opposite end of the casing and closing the end of the chamber 20 opposite the connect- 10 ing rod I2. With this arrangement access to the outer end of the plunger may be had through the plug opening 68, While access to the rear end of the plunger and the connecting rod may be had through the plug opening 69. The working parts may be entirely removed from the casing by first unscrewing the bearing plug I6 and removing the crank pin I3b from the connecting rod, and then removing the connecting rod and plunger endwise through the plug opening 65.

With the construction above described, it Will now be understood that the pump operates With the usual double action, but that the part of the flow of Water through chamber 2H serves to lubricate the moving parts with a constantly changing supply of Water, thereby making it unnecessary to provide any auxiliary lubrication to these parts, and assuring a constant flow of pure Water at all times.

Although I have illustrated and described a certain embodiment of my invention, it Will be understood that I do not Wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit and 3 5 scope of my invention.

I claim:

In a liquid pump, operating means including a rotating drive shaft and a crank arm thereon,

a casing having an opening of sufficient size to permit said shaft and crank arm to pass therethrough,- an elongated bearing member forming the sole support for said shaft and detachably connected to said casing to form a closure for said opening, said member having a bore at its inner end coaxial with but of substantially greater diameter than said shaft, an imperforate cylindrical bearing for said shaft adapted to t in said bore but spaced from the inner end thereof so as to form a chamber at the end of said shaft bearing remote from said casing, said bearing member also having a duct formed therein extending from said casing to said chamber so as to form independent access of lubricant to both ends of said shaft bearing, and said bearing member also having another bearing carried at its outer end, and adjustable packing means interposed between said rst and second shaft bearings.

' HERBERT R. LAFFER'I'Y. 

